Linking political and bureaucratic representation: Does minority representation on city councils affect the outcomes of street-level service?

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Choi, Heasun; Hong, Sounman
• 署名单位: State University of New York (SUNY) System; University at Albany, SUNY; Yonsei University
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3298
• DOI: 10.1111/padm.12696
• 发表日期: 2021
• 页码: 405-421
• 关键词: descriptive representation; community accountability; active representation; law-enforcement; police use; GOVERNMENT; diversity; women; black; coproduction

摘要

This study examines whether minority representation in democratic institutions impacts frontline public service outcomes, investigating specifically the association between the shares of ethnic minorities on California city councils and the measured level of racial disparities practised by the police in the corresponding jurisdictional areas. The findings suggest that an increase in ethnic minority council members is associated with a respective decrease in racial disparities against ethnic minority groups only if ethnic minority groups are well represented in police forces. This study is among the first to empirically examine the link between political representation and bureaucratic behaviours at the street level. The findings have implications for understanding how political representation can contribute to the democratic accountability of street-level bureaucracy and how political and bureaucratic representations can complement each other.